How much did Qatar 2022 cost?

The World Cup in Qatar 2022 will be the most expensive in history with a budget of 220,000 million dollars, according to Statista. The 2018 World Cup in Russia cost 11.6 billion dollars and the 2014 tournament in Brazil spent 15 billion dollars.

Of the entire budget for the World Cup in Qatar, between 6,500 and 10,000 million dollars were allocated to the construction of the stadiums requested by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

The rest of the 220,000 million dollars were allocated to a mega-project for the construction of different infrastructures necessary for the organization of the tournament, such as hotels, airports and a metro network.

“Our main objective goes beyond the championship. We are working for the development of the country and investments in this field. For example, transportation infrastructure as well as businesses in this field take advantage of the metro project. Another advantage of the project , is to offer employment opportunities,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, general secretary of the Organization and Legacy Committee, responsible for managing projects for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA required, with 48 teams, at least 12 stadiums with the capacity to accommodate a minimum of 40,000 attendees in most matches, 60,000 in the semifinals and 80,000 in the opening and final.

Despite the efforts and proposals to achieve the viability of the World Cup with a format of 48 teams, Qatar only completed the construction of 8 stadiums with the characteristics requested by FIFA and the participation of 32 teams was agreed without involving another country in the organization of the 2022 World Cup, as it did in the negotiations to hold the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were considered to host this year’s World Cup.

Between the second half of 2019 and the second half of 2021, the construction of the eight World Cup stadiums was completed.

The Lusail Stadium has the capacity to receive 94,500 attendees and will host the opening and the final of the FIFA World Cup.

Qatar is a country located in the Persian Gulf and only shares a border with Saudi Arabia. Its capital is Doha and it has a population of 2.9 million inhabitants spread over its 11,581 km².

termometro.economico@eleconomista.mx